St. John the Baptist will remain open for 2013-14 school year

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KSDK) - The Archdiocese of St. Louis will allow St. John the Baptist Parish School to remain open for the next school year after the parish raised money to help keep the elementary school running.

The school, located in the Bevo Mill neighborhood in south St. Louis, needed to raise $250,000 by December 31, 2012 to help cover a projected budget deficit for the 2013-14 school year. More than $240,000 was collected from the community through fundraisers, and school officials said they identified new cuts in the budget to cover the remaining balance.

Enrollment at St. John the Baptist had been in decline over the years due to demographic and economic changes.

Approximately 140 students are enrolled in St. John the Baptist from kindergarten to eighth grade, as well as 25 preschoolers and 17 kids in the archdiocesan Department of Special Education learning center classrooms.

The school will host an open house to discuss the upcoming year on Sunday, January 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 4170 Delor Street. For more information on the open house, parents can call 314-481-6654.